Color display, liquid crystal display, and translucent liquid crystal display

ABSTRACT

In a color display device, when using white (W) sub-pixels in addition to subpixels of red (R) and green (G) plus blue (B) without increasing a wiring line number, the per-color pixel number in a unit area decreases so that the image resolution is deteriorated. The area and number of subpixels are adjusted in accordance with the visual sensitivity or luminosity required. Practically, the area of red (R) and blue (B) subpixels which are relatively low in luminosity is set to be about two times greater than the area of green (G) and white (W) subpixels that are relatively high in luminosity while letting the number of green (G) and white (W) subpixels be twice the number of red (R) and blue (B) subpixels. A larger subpixel is configured from a plurality of unit subpixels. A smaller subpixel is formed of a one unit subpixel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a color display device for displayingimages, a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, and a semi-transmissiveLCD device.

Currently available color display devices for use in practicalapplications include devices based on various kinds of displaytechnologies, such as cathode ray tube (CRT) monitors, liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) devices, plasma display panels (PDPs), organiclight-emitting diode (LED) panels, field emission display (FED) panels,and electrophoresis or electrochrominance-based electronic paper(“e-paper”) display panels. A major approach to achieving color imagedisplaying in non-emissive LCDs is to use a technique for arranging apicture element or “pixel” by a parallel layout of sub-pixels havingcolor filters of the three primary colors, i.e., red (R), green (G) andblue (B), and for adjusting the brightness of each subpixelindependently of one another to thereby represent any given color byadditive color mixture methods. Another approach for use with emissivedisplays is to arrange a pixel by parallel layout of subpixels havingfluorescent materials of the three primary colors, i.e., red (R), green(G) and blue (B), and for adjusting the brightness on a per-subpixelbasis in a similar way to LCDs to thereby represent any given color byadditive color mixture methods in a similar way to LCDs.

In the case of the technique for performing color displaying by additivecolor mixture with the use of three-primary-color subpixels, it ispossible to display on-screen images in vivid colors with high fidelity;on the contrary, as the area of each primary color-allocated subpixel isone third (⅓) the total area of a pixel, the resulting efficiency staysless, posing a problem as to deficiency of light amount.

One solution to this problem is to employ an arrangement with additionof subpixels of white (W) color, as proposed and disclosed inJP-A-11-295717. In the white (W) subpixels used in non-emissive LCDs,there is no light absorption at color filters so that it is possible toenhance the use efficiency of a light source. As the white (W) subpixelsin emissive ones is high in brightness per unit area, it is easy toincrease the brightness of display device.

In the case of adding the white (W) subpixels, if these subpixels aresimply added, there exists a penalty as to unwanted increase in numberof signal transmission lines and/or scanning lines. A pixelconfiguration with the white (W) subpixels being added thereto withouthaving to increase the number of such lines is disclosed, for example,in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0225575 A1.

Another problem of the additive color mixture-based color display schemewith the parallel layout of three-primary-color subpixels is that thecolor reproduction range is limited to within the zone of a triangledetermined by chromaticity coordinate points of the three primarycolors, resulting in a region being left widely, which is incapable ofreproducing most of the real colors in the natural world. To solve thisproblem, an attempt is made to lay out subpixels of four primary colorsto thereby expand the color reproduction range from the triangle to arectangle.

An example of such four-primary-color display device is found inJP-A-2005-338783.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Although the addition of white (W) subpixels for reducing the colorabsorption loss due to color filters is effective, merely adding white(W) subpixels to red (R), green (G) and blue (B) subpixels causes atotal number of subpixels to increase, resulting in an increase innumber of electrical wiring lines associated therewith. When fixing thisproblem by use of the technique as taught by the above-cited US2005/0225575A1, another problem arises as to a decrease in imageresolution because of the fact that a per-color pixel number in thelateral direction is set to one-half of that of the parallel layout ofextra-fine red (R), green (G) and blue (B) subpixels. In the case ofultrahigh-definition display devices with resolutions of more than 300pixels per inch (ppi), this penalty is not so appreciable. However, inmiddle or high definition display devices with the resolution being setat 200 ppi, or more or less, the penalty appreciably degrades theviewability and visibility of on-screen color images. It is therefore anobject of this invention to provide a display device capable of reducingthe color filter-caused absorption loss while at the same timepreventing reduction of image resolution.

Especially in the case of LCD devices, these are also required to reducethe loss occurring due to a black matrix which shields peripheralportions of subpixels in addition to the above-noted color filter-causedloss. Alternatively, in the case of LCD devices of the type employing atechnique for driving a layer of liquid crystal (LC) material by use ofa common electrode and comb-like signal electrode formed on the samesubstrate, a need is felt to provide a sufficiently long distancebetween an end portion of the comb-like signal electrode and a signalline in order to prevent occurrence of unwanted color mixture betweenneighboring subpixels, and thus these LCDs are under requirement forreduction of the loss occurrable due to the presence of such increaseddistance.

To attain the foregoing object, in accordance with one aspect of thisinvention, there is provided a color display device of the type having amatrix array of unit subpixel layouts which are comprised of a pluralityof red (R), green (G), blue (B) and white (W) subpixels and performingcolor image display operations, characterized in that the subpixels aremade different in area and number on a per-color basis while letting atotal area of respective colors be kept unchanged and substantiallyequal.

More specifically, the red (R) and blue (B) subpixels are arranged to beabout two times greater in area than the green (G) and white (W)subpixels. The green (G) and white (W) subpixels are two times greaterin number than the red (R) and blue (B) subpixels. Those subpixels whichare included in a pixel unit configuration that is a recurring unit aremade up of an ensemble of twelve (12) subpixels in total, i.e., two red(R) subpixels, two blue (B) subpixels, four green (G) subpixels, andfour white (W) subpixels.

Also importantly, each subpixel is constituted from one or a pluralityof continuously disposed unit subpixels of the same area. Regarding thered (R) and blue (B) subpixels, each of these subpixels consistsessentially of two unit subpixels. As for the green (G) and white (W)subpixels, each of them is formed of a single unit subpixel.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a color LCD devicewhich is also capable of attaining the above-stated object is provided,which includes a color display device provided between two substrates tohave a matrix array of rows and columns of unit subpixel layouts eachbeing configured from a plurality of red (R), green (G), blue (B) andwhite (W) subpixels for performing color image displaying and a layer ofLC material filled in a space gap between the substrates, characterizedin that a black matrix is formed between the red (R) subpixels and green(G) subpixels and also between the blue (B) subpixels and green (G)subpixels whereas the black matrix is not formed between the red (R)subpixels and white (W) subpixels and between the blue (B) subpixels andwhite (W) subpixels.

Preferably in the color LCD device, specific layout design is employablefor disposing a boundary of red and blue color filters between any oneof the red (R) and blue (B) subpixels and a white (W) subpixel in such amanner that the boundary is closer to the white (W) subpixel side than asignal line between the red (R) and blue (B) subpixels on one hand andthe white (W) subpixel on the other hand.

Alternatively, in order to attain the above-noted object in a color LCDdevice which has an LC layer filled in a gap space between two separatesubstrates with a color display device being provided therein, whereinthis color display device has a matrix array of unit pixel layouts eachbeing made up of a plurality of subpixels of red (R), green (G), blue(B) and white (W) for performing color display operations, thisinvention provides a color liquid crystal display device which isarranged so that in each subpixel the liquid crystal is driven by acomb-shaped signal electrode and common electrode provided on onesubstrate and which is characterized in that the distance between signalline and signal electrode end portion is changed in a color-dependentmanner.

Further, in the color liquid crystal display device, it is recommendableto change the number of teeth of the comb-like signal electrode in acolor-dependent way.

According to this invention, by adding white (W) pixels without havingto increase the wiring line number, the loss occurring due to thepresence of a color filter(s) is lessened to thereby make it possible toprovide a display device with suppressibility of the image resolutionreduction and also provide information terminal equipment using such thedevice.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an enlarged partial plan view of a displaydevice of an embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanation diagram of a pixel unit configuration of theembodiment 1 of this invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanation diagram of another example of the pixel unitconfiguration of the embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanation diagram of an application example of a blackmatrix layout method of the invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanation diagram of a layout of pixels which areequivalent in area to the embodiment 1 in prior known RGB parallellayout design.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explanation of a gradation voltagegenerator and a gradation voltage selector in signal line drivecircuitry.

FIG. 7 is an explanation diagram of a cellular phone system.

FIG. 8 is an explanation diagram of a pixel unit arrangement of anembodiment 3 of the invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanation diagram of another example of the unit pixelarrangement of the embodiment 3 of the invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanation diagram of a pixel unit configuration of anembodiment 4 of the invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanation diagram of another example of the unit pixelconfiguration of the embodiment 4 of the invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanation diagram of still another example of the unitpixel configuration of the embodiment 4 of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An explanation will be given of respective embodiments with reference tothe accompanying figures of the drawing below.

Embodiment 1

A configuration of this embodiment will be described by use of FIG. 1.FIG. 1 is an enlarged plan view of part of a display device of thisembodiment, including a plurality of picture elements or “pixels” in adisplay area with a matrix array of pixels each made up of sub-pixelsbeing provided in units of colors. The display device of this embodimentis a liquid crystal display (LCD) device, which is arranged so that aliquid crystal (LC) layer is filled between a first substrate on which aplurality of thin-film transistors (TFTs) provided on a per-subpixelbasis and wiring lines are disposed in a matrix form and a secondsubstrate with color filters and a black matrix being disposed thereon.The LCD device is of the type using the so-called active matrix drivetechnique. Optical films, such as polarization plates, are bonded ontospecified surfaces of the first and second substrates, which surfacesare on the opposite side to the LC layer. The display device of thisembodiment is able to perform displaying with any given brightness orluminance by using a backlight module (not shown) as its light sourceand by electrically controlling the LC layer to modulate thepolarization state of polarized light that has passed through thepolarizer plate while also modulating the transmissivity of the otherpolarizer plate.

FIG. 1 shows an ensemble of unit arrangements 120 of pixels which areperiodically disposed at substantially equal intervals, wherein eachunit includes twelve subpixels in total—i.e., two red (R) subpixels121R, two blue (B) subpixels 121B, four green (G) subpixels 121G andfour white (W) subpixels 121W. Regarding the red (R) subpixels 121R andblue (B) subpixels 121B, each is further dividable into unit subpixels109: the red (R) subpixels 121R and blue (B) subpixels 121B are eachconstituted from two unit subpixels. The longitudinal-to-lateral or“aspect” ratio of the red (R) subpixels 121R and blue (B) subpixels 121Bis such that the longitudinal length is set to approximately two (2)with respect to the lateral length of one (1). On the contrary, theaspect ratio of the green (G) subpixels 121G and white (W) subpixels121W is set at about 1:1. The green (G) subpixels 121G and white (W)subpixels 121W are such that each is formed of a single unit subpixel109.

The red (R) subpixels 121R and blue (B) subpixels 121B are different inarea from the green (G) subpixels 121G and white (W) subpixels 121W. Thearea of the former is approximately twice the area of the latter.

The reason for changing the number and area between the red (R)subpixels 121R and blue (B) subpixels 121B on one hand and the green (G)subpixels 121G and white (W) subpixels 121W on the other hand in thisway is based on the relation of the visual sensitivity or luminosity andthe image resolution. It is known that the human eyes are relativelyhigher in resolution of colors of high luminosity than other colors lowin luminosity. In this embodiment, among the red (R), green (G), blue(B) and white (W) colors, the number of the G and W subpixels that arerelatively high in luminosity is specifically set to about twice thenumber of the R and B subpixels that are relatively low in luminosity.

See FIG. 2, which is a pictorial representation of the layout ofrespective subpixels in unit pixels. FIG. 5 is a pictorialrepresentation of one prior art RGB parallel layout design havingsubpixel layouts which are equivalent in area to the pixel unitarrangements 120 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In the prior artRGB parallel layout design, one pixel consists of three subpixels. FIG.5 shows a total of twelve subpixels in a group of two rows and twocolumns of pixels. As apparent by comparison between FIG. 2 and FIG. 5,this embodiment is with addition of the white (W) subpixels 121W and,nevertheless, is kept identical in subpixel number in the samearea—i.e., 12 subpixels. Whereas the number of the green (G) subpixels121G and white (W) subpixels 121W is the same, the number of the green(G) subpixels 121G and blue (B) subpixels 121B is set at the half.

A modified example of the subpixel layout scheme of FIG. 2 is shown inFIG. 3, wherein each pair of green (G) subpixel 121G and white (W)subpixel 121W is modifiable so that these are interchanged in positionwith each other.

A pixel is arranged to at least include a scan line 101, first signalline 102B, second signal line 102G, third signal line 102W, TFTs 103R,103G, 103B and 103W, common electrode 104 (symbols in FIG. 1 indicatecontact holes), amorphous silicon layer 105, and signal electrodes 106and 113, which are formed on or above the first substrate, and alsoinclude a black matrix 110, red (R) color filter 111R, green (G) colorfilter 111G, blue (B) color filter 111B and white (W) color filter 111W,which are formed on the second substrate, and further includes an LClayer that is filled in the gap space provided between the firstsubstrate and the second substrate. The black matrix 110 is for lightshield purposes so it is opaque. In the drawing, this part is indicatedby contour lines to avoid concealment of its background configurations.The red (R) color filter 111R, green (G) color filter 111G and blue (B)color filter 111B are each made of currently available color resistmaterial. As for the white (W) color filter 111W, this filter may beformed by burying with a transparent resist material a step-likedifference that was formed either by pre-removal of a color resist or byremoving the color resist. The scan line 101, signal lines 102B, 102Gand 102W, signal electrode 106 are each made of a metallic material oflow electrical resistance. The common electrode 104 and signal electrode113 are each formed of a transparent electrode. The signal electrode 106and signal electrode 113 are connected via contact hole 107, 108. The LClayer is driven by an electric field being applied between the commonelectrode 104 and signal electrode 113. Although this embodiment usesamorphous silicon TFTs using amorphous silicon layer 105 in the TFTs103, other types of transistors may alternatively be used, such as forexample low-temperature polycrystalline silicon transistors, organictransistors, etc.

(Description as to Other Displays)

It would readily occur to those skilled in the art that the subpixellayout of this invention is applicable to display devices other than theLCD device stated in this embodiment. Examples of such devices include,but not limited to, organic LED panels, electrophoresis orelectrochrominance-based electronic paper (“e-paper”) display panels,PDPs, FED panels, and CRT monitors.

It is readily understandable that in display devices of theself-luminous type, such as organic LED panels and PDPs, the function ofthe color filter in the LCD device is achieved by per-color fluorescentmaterial.

In the self-luminous display devices also, a technique is known forusing white fluorescent material and color filters in a combined form tothereby perform color image displaying. In this case, it is possible toattain required designs by an approach similar to the LCD device of thisembodiment.

(Details of Unit Subpixel)

The red (R) subpixels 121R and the blue (B) subpixels 121B are eachformed of two unit subpixels 109 with TFTs 103 being connected to thesame signal line for the reason which follows. Although the subpixels ofthis embodiment are different in size on a per-color basis, if each ofthe red (R) subpixels 121R and blue (B) subpixels 121B, which arerelatively large-size subpixels, is not subdivided into unit subpixels109, the area of an LC layer portion to be driven by the TFTs 103R and103B is unintentionally different from that of each of the green (G)subpixels 121G and white (W) subpixels 121W. Accordingly, thesignificance of the so-called LC capacitance with the TFT 103's bearingLC layer portion as dielectric substance becomes different per color.Alternatively, if the subpixels are different in size on a per-colorbasis, the significance of parasitic capacitance between the signalelectrode 113 and the signal line 102 becomes different on a per-colorbasis. In active matrix driving, the presence of the capacitance of TFT103 per se and/or the parasitic capacitance thereof would result in afeed-through voltage being derived as an error of drive voltage. Thefeed-through voltage is variable in potential in a way depending uponthe magnitude of the LC capacitance and/or parasitic capacitance.Consequently, if the LC capacitance and/or parasitic capacitance becomesdifferent on a per-subpixel basis, the feed-through voltage also becomesdifferent. If the feed-through voltage of each subpixel is keptconstant, it is possible to alleviate the influence of feed-throughvoltage by amending a relative relation between common voltage potentialand signal potential; however, such amendment is no longer executable incase the feed-through voltage is different per subpixel. For thisreason, in this embodiment, larger subpixels are specifically arrangedto be divided into unit subpixels, each of which is the same in size assmaller subpixels, to thereby ensure that each TFT 103's LC capacitanceand parasitic capacitance become almost equal. With this arrangement, itis possible to sufficiently suppress the subpixel dependency of thefeed-through voltage. This makes it possible to employ prior knownfeed-through voltage strategies with no changes even in arrangementswith subpixels being different in area on a per-color basis.

(Explanation of Other Display Methods)

So far, this embodiment was described by mainly exemplifying LCD devicesof the type using the active matrix (AM) drive technique, i.e., AM-LCDs,it is needless to say that the arrangement of this invention fordividing each of the larger subpixels into unit subpixels is applicableto other AM-driven display devices—for example, organic LED displaydevices, or electrophoresis/electrochrominance-based electronic paper(e-paper) display devices. This can be said because of the fact whichfollows. In the case of AM drive designs, the display image brightnessdeviation phenomenon per se is common—more precisely, when thecapacitance of TFT 103 of each subpixel is varied, the feed-throughvoltage acting as noises varies accordingly, resulting in a displayimage being deviated from its intended level of brightness.

(Regarding Black Matrix)

Some major functions of the black matrix 110 are as follows: (1)preventing invasion of the outside light into TFTs 103, (2) shielding aregion which can experience light leakage during black displaying due toa failure of prespecified movement of an LCD layer portion associatedtherewith, and (3) avoiding exposure of a color filter to itsneighboring subpixel when misalignment occurs in the process of bondingtogether the first and second substrates. To attain the third goal, theblack matrix is provided between R and G subpixels, between G and Bsubpixels and between R and B subpixels. An example is that in the caseof displaying red (R) color that is high in chromaticity, only the red(R) subpixels 121R are driven to turn on while causing their adjacentgreen (G) subpixels 121G and blue (B) subpixels 121B to be keptdeactivated and nonoperative. If the first and second substrates aremisaligned in position, when any one of the green (G) subpixels 121G andblue (B) subpixels 121B partly overlaps its associated red (R) subpixel121R, unwanted color mixture takes place. To avoid this risk, the blackmatrix is formed between the neighboring subpixels to ensure that suchcolor mixture does not occur as far as the possible misalignment betweenthe first and second substrates falls within a prespecified range.Unfortunately, this advantage of the black matrix layout does not comewithout accompanying a penalty: the black matrix partly shields theeffective display area also, resulting in a likewise decrease inefficiency.

As a consequence, no black matrixes are provided between the W and Bsubpixels and between W and R subpixels. In view of the fact that it islow-chromaticity color that turns on the white (W) subpixels 121W, theblue (B) subpixels 121B and red (R) subpixels 121R are forced to turn onsimultaneously. Accordingly, even when the red (R) subpixels 121R andblue (B) subpixels 121B slightly overlap white (W) subpixels 121W, theinfluence thereof is negligible. From this viewpoint, any black matrixis not provided at portions between W and B subpixels and between W andR subpixels. Note here that the boundary 112R of red (R) color filter ina region between W-R with no black matrix being provided therein isprovided on the white (W) subpixel 121W side. Similarly, the boundary112B of blue (B) color filter in a region between W-R with no blackmatrix being provided therein is provided on the white (W) subpixel 121Wside. This is in order to prevent the invasion of white (W) color filterto the neighboring blue (B) subpixel 121B and red (R) subpixel 121R evenwhen misalignment occurs in the process of bonding the first and secondsubstrates together. With the black matrix layout unique to thisembodiment, it is possible to recover and improve the efficiency, whichwas lowered due to the black-matrix shielding of effective display pixelareas.

In prior art color display devices of the type driving LC by similarprinciples to this embodiment, it is necessary to retain a predetermineddistance between terminate ends of signal electrodes 113 of neighboringsubpixels in order to avoid unwanted color mixture occurring due to theleakage of an electric field into such neighboring subpixels. From aviewpoint of efficiency improvement, this distance is too long slightly.The reason of this is that if the distance between the terminate ends ofsignal line 102 and signal electrode 113 is long excessively then itbecomes difficult to efficiently drive a region therebetween. In thisembodiment, there is a portion between subpixels in which two signallines 102B and 102W are disposed: at this portion, a sufficient lengthof distance is acquirable between neighboring subpixels at the end ofsignal electrode 113. Accordingly, the distance between the end ofsignal electrode 113 of a subpixel neighboring upon two signal lines102B and 102W and the signal line 102B, 102W is specifically designed tobe shorter than the distance between the signal electrode 113's end of asubpixel adjacent to one signal line 102G and this signal line 102G.

The black matrix layout of this arrangement may also be applied to othercolor filter layout designs.

See FIG. 4, which is an explanation diagram in the case of the blackmatrix layout of this embodiment being applied to a color filter layoutwhich is disclosed in US 2005/0225575. A black matrix 110 is providedbetween green (G) and red (R) subpixels and between green (G) and blue(B) subpixels in order to prevent color mixture otherwise occurring dueto the presence of substrate-bonding misalignment whereas the blackmatrix 110 is not provided on the right and left sides of each white (W)subpixel.

In addition, the color filter boundary 112B of a blue (B) subpixel isprovided at a position nearer to its associated white (W) subpixel thansignal line 102; similarly, the color filter boundary 112R of a red (R)subpixel is provided at a position nearer to the white (W) subpixel thansignal line 102. This is in order to prevent invasion of the colorfilter of white (W) subpixel into blue (B) and red (R) subpixels evenupon occurrence of substrate bond misalignment. Comb teeth of signalelectrode 113 of white (W) subpixel 121W are arranged to be greater innumber than comb teeth of signal electrode 113 of those subpixels of theother colors. It is needed to retain a prespecified length of distancebetween the terminate ends of signal electrodes 113 of neighboringsubpixels in order to prevent color mixture occurring due to leakage ofan electric field to such neighboring subpixels.

However, from the viewpoint of efficiency, this distance is too long bylittle. In the case of an arrangement with white (W) subpixels beingprovided in addition to those subpixels of the three primary colors, thewhite (W) subpixels are sometimes turned off during turn-on driving ofred (R) subpixels and blue (B) subpixels; adversely, in the case of thewhite (W) subpixels being turned on, the red (R) subpixels and blue (B)subpixels are driven to turn on simultaneously so that there is no needto worry about the occurrence of color mixture due to leakage of anelectric field of at the end of signal electrode 113W of white (W)subpixel to its neighboring subpixels. Accordingly, unlike the subpixelsof the three primary colors, the white (W) subpixels are arranged toincrease in number of comb teeth of signal electrode 113W to therebymake the distance between the end of signal electrode 113 and signalline 102 shorter than the distance between end of signal electrode 113and signal line 102 in the subpixels of three primary colors.

Embodiment 2

Regarding peripheral circuit design in a case where the unit subpixelconfiguration is not employed, this embodiment provides a solution toproblems occurrable in the pixel layouts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 whenfailing to use the unit subpixel arrangement and thus resulting in thesubpixels being different in size on a per-color basis, which solutionis different from that of the embodiment 1. One problem occurring incase the subpixels are different in size on a per-color basis is thatthe optimum common voltage becomes different in its potential value dueto a difference of feed-through voltage on a per-subpixel basis, whichcan occur due to differences of each subpixel's electricalcharacteristics (e.g., retained capacitance, parasitic capacitance orelse). Size-different subpixels will be referred to as a first kind ofsubpixel and second kind of subpixel, respectively. A method forsupplying color-tone or gradation voltages which are optimized to thefirst kind of subpixel and second kind of subpixel, which are differentin size from each other, will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6Aand 6B. In this embodiment, an explanation will be given of a case wheregreen (G) subpixels and white (W) subpixels are each regarded as thefirst kind of subpixel whereas red (R) subpixels and blue (B) subpixelsare each assumed to be the second kind of subpixel.

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a circuit arrangement embodying theinvention. A gradation voltage generation unit 305 supplies 256gradation voltages V0 to V255 to a gradation voltage selector 302. Thisgradation voltage selector selects from among the 256 gradation voltagesa gradation voltage corresponding to image data and then outputs it toan image data output terminal 4001. A selector switch 4002 is responsiveto receipt of a signal SEL for connecting the image data output terminal4001 to either a signal transfer line 4003 that is connected to green(G) and white (W) subpixels or a signal line 4004 that is connected tored (R) and blue (B) subpixels. In FIG. 6A, the case is shown where theselector switch 4002 is fabricated on an LCD panel: in this case, anumber of image data output terminals 4001 is one-half of the number ofsignal lines. For example, it is also conceivable that as shown in FIG.6B, the selector switch 4002 is formed within a signal line drivecircuit with the image data output terminals 4001 being equal in numberto the signal lines.

The gradation voltage generator 305 includes an output stage 3080 whichconsists essentially of operation amplifiers 3052 that perform currentamplification and string resistors 3083 for increasing the number ofcolor tones, a first ladder resistor 3081 which generates a referencevoltage of first gradation voltage, a second ladder resistor 3082 thatgenerates a reference voltage of second gradation voltage, and areference voltage changeover switch module 3084 for performing, in syncwith the signal SEL, switching between voltages to be output from thefirst ladder resistor and the second ladder resistor and for outputtinga switched voltage to more than one of the op-amps 3052. In thisembodiment, there is also provided a switch module for controlling eachladder resistor in response to receipt of a polarity-inverted signal Mthat is in sync with a polarity inversion period of liquid crystal (LC).With this switch, the ladder(s) is/are varied in resistance value in away synchronized with the polarity inversion also. This configuration isthe one that supplies a signal line(s) with the first gradation voltageand second gradation voltage by causing the two types of ladderresistors to produce at least two different kinds of reference voltagesand then performing switching of these voltages in response to thesignal SEL to thereby input it to the opamp(s) 3052.

Other employable arrangements include an arrangement with the two ladderresistors being replaced by a single ladder resistor capable of changingits resistance value in a time-division manner, thereby enabling thefirst gradation voltage and second gradation voltage to be supplied tosignal lines in a time-division way, and an arrangement with the stringresistor being modified to be controlled in a time division fashion.

FIG. 7 shows a circuit configuration of a cellular or “mobile” phoneincorporating the principles of this invention. This mobile phone isdesignated by numeral 1000 in FIG. 7, which is wirelessly communicableover-the-air with a host station 1004. Mobile phone 1000 is generallymade up of an input means 1001, main memory 1002, transmission/reception(Tx/Rx) unit 1003, central processor unit (CPU), and LCD device 1. ThisLCD device includes as its major components an LCD panel 2, signal linedrive circuit 3, scan line drive circuit 4, power supply (PS) circuit 5,and backlight unit 6. The signal line drive circuit 3 includes a timingcontrol circuit 300, memory 301, gradation voltage selector 302,interface (IF) 303, control register 304, and gradation voltagegenerator 305.

The CPU of mobile phone 1000 performs various kinds of controloperations of the phone. Concerning the control of the LCD device 1, itoutputs a display sync signal and image data 306 to the timingcontroller 300, thereby enabling visual displaying of informationreceived from the host station 1004 and/or the data stored in the mainmemory 1002. In addition, it issues operation-defining data 307 (in thisembodiment, this data will be called the instruction). The IF 303performs transmission and reception of data containing therein theinstruction to and from the CPU. In addition, the control register 304also performs such data receive/transmit operations. The instructionwill be stored in the control register 304.

The signal line drive circuit 3 drives signal lines 101 whereas the scanline drive circuit 4 drives scan lines 102. The PS circuit 5 producesfrom a voltage fed from the mobile phone an appropriate potential levelof power supply voltage, which is supplied to the signal line drivecircuit 3 and scan line drive circuit 4. PS circuit 105 also has abuilt-in circuit for driving an opposing electrode, also known as“counter” electrode.

The timing controller 300 reads image data out of the memory 301 andthen sequentially outputs the image data to the gradation voltageselector 302 in a way of one row of image data in unison at a time. Thegradation voltage selector 302 selects one from among the gradationvoltages generated by the gradation voltage generator 305 and thenapplies it to each signal line. The gradation voltage generator 305functions to generate all possible gradation voltages, which correspondin number to all the color tone levels required—for example, 64different voltages in case the number of gradation levels required is64.

Embodiment 3 (RGBC Layout)

In this embodiment, a description will be given of another configurationof color filters in the subpixel layouts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Whilethe embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-3 are each arranged to have white (W)subpixels in addition to the subpixels of three primary colors, i.e.,red (R), green (G) and blue (B), this arrangement may be modified sothat the green (G) and white (W) subpixels which are higher in visualsensitivity than red (R) and blue (B) subpixels are replaced bysubpixels of blue-blended green (CG) and yellow-blended green (YG) whichare similarly high in visual sensitivity to thereby provide aconfiguration of four primary colors as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Anadvantage of this arrangement lies in its ability to widen the range ofcolor reproduction when compared to the case of using only three primarycolors, i.e., red (R), green (G) and blue (B). Very importantly, theadvantage as to expandability of the color reproduction range isobtainable without having to increase the signal lines and scan lines innumber when compared to prior art pixel configurations using only thethree primary colors of red (R), green (G) and blue (B). Thus it ispossible to appreciably increase aperture ratios when compared to anarrangement with parallel layout of size-equaled subpixels of fourprimary colors. This makes it possible to achieve a display devicecapable of offering increased efficiency and enhanced colorreproducibility.

Embodiment 4 (Case of Semi-Transmissive Display)

This embodiment is drawn to a semi-transmissive LCD device, also knownas transreflective LCD, which has subpixels each of which is constitutedfrom a transmissive part and a reflective part. Prior art transflectiveLCD devices using subpixels of only three primary colors, i.e., red (R),green (G) and blue (B), are usually arranged to partly remove a colorfilter at the reflective part and provide a white-colored area within asubpixel. In cases where it is acceptable to perform image displaying ina black-and-white mode, another configuration is employable in a waysuch that reflective part 121W(R) is provided only in white (W)subpixels as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Still alternatively, as shown inFIG. 12, every subpixel may be designed to have reflective parts121B(R), 121G(R), 121R(R) and 121W(R) to thereby provide thetransflective display specification, thus causing the reflective part'sarea ratio to change so that it is different between for white (W)subpixels and for the other subpixels.

An expected advantage obtainable in any one of these cases is asfollows: the reflective part is higher in the ratio of white (W) areathan the transmissive part, resulting in a decrease in the colorreproduction range even at the reflective part, thereby enablingenhancement of the reflectivity thereof. When viewed from anotherstandpoint, it can be said that this arrangement is such that only thewhite (W) subpixels are arranged to be low in area ratio of transmissivepart. Adding the white (W) subpixels contributes to improvements inbrightness. However, this merit does not come without accompanyingrisks: a relative decrease in area ratio of primary colors, and anincrease in brightness ratio of primary colors to white. By lesseningthe aperture ratio of transmissive part of white (W) subpixels less whencompared to aperture ratios of three primary colors, it becomes possibleto make smaller or “alleviate” the ratio of the brightness duringdisplaying the white color versus the brightness during displaying thethree primary colors.

This invention provides a successful solution for improvement of theviewability of LCD devices adaptable for use in information terminalequipment—typically, cellular phones.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. A color display device having a matrix array of unit pixel layoutseach comprised of four colors of sub-pixels for performing colordisplaying, wherein each color is made substantially equal in total areawhile causing an area of sub-pixel and a number thereof to be differenton a per-color basis.
 2. A color display device according to claim 1,wherein an area of two colors of sub-pixels with higher visualsensitivity among said four colors of sub-pixels is set at approximatelyone-half of an area of remaining two colors of sub-pixels with lowervisual sensitivity among said four colors of sub-pixels and wherein thetwo colors of sub-pixels with higher visual sensitivity among said fourcolors of sub-pixels are two times greater in number than the two colorsof sub-pixels with lower visual sensitivity among said four colors ofsub-pixels.
 3. A color display device according to claim 2, whereincolors of the two colors of sub-pixels with higher visual sensitivityamong said four colors of sub-pixels are green (G) and white (W) whereascolors of the two colors of sub-pixels with lower visual sensitivityamong said four colors of sub-pixels are red (R) and blue (B).
 4. Acolor display device according to claim 2, wherein colors of the twocolors of sub-pixels with higher visual sensitivity among said fourcolors of sub-pixels are blue-blended green (CG) and yellow-blendedgreen (YG) whereas colors of the two colors of sub-pixels with lowervisual sensitivity among said four colors of sub-pixels are red (R) andblue (B).
 5. A color display device according to claim 1, whereinsub-pixels included in a pixel unit arrangement for use as a repeat unitis made up, in total, of twelve (12) sub-pixels consisting essentiallyof a total of eight (8) ones each corresponding to any one of two colorsof sub-pixels with higher visual sensitivity among said four colors ofsub-pixels and a total of four ones each corresponding to any one of twocolors of sub-pixels with lower visual sensitivity among said fourcolors of sub-pixels.
 6. A color display device according to claim 1,wherein each sub-pixel is configured from one or a plurality ofcontinuously disposed unit sub-pixels of substantially the same area. 7.A color display device according to claim 6, wherein the two colors ofsub-pixels with higher visual sensitivity among said four colors ofsub-pixels are each constituted from a single unit sub-pixel whereas thetwo colors of sub-pixels with lower visual sensitivity among said fourcolors of sub-pixels are formed of two unit sub-pixels.
 8. A colordisplay device according to claim 6, wherein at each of intersections ofsignal lines and scan lines which are disposed to cross together in amatrix form, an intersection of a signal line and a scan line with aplurality of thin-film transistors being disposed for connection to thesignal line and the scan line and an intersection of a signal line and ascan line with a one thin-film transistor being disposed are arranged tocoexist.
 9. A color liquid crystal display device having a layer ofliquid crystal material as filled in a gap space between two substrateswith a color display device being provided for performing colordisplaying while letting unit pixel layouts be disposed in a matrixform, each said unit pixel layout being configured from a plurality ofsubpixels of red (R), green (G), blue (B) and white (W), wherein a blackmatrix is formed between subpixels of red (R) and green (G) and alsobetween subpixels of blue (B) and green (G) and wherein the black matrixis prevented from being formed between subpixels of red (R) and white(W) and between subpixels of blue (B) and white (W).
 10. A color liquidcrystal display device according to claim 9, wherein a boundary of redand blue color filters between red (R) and blue (B) subpixels and white(W) subpixel is disposed to be more adjacent to the white (W) subpixelside than a signal line between the red (R) and blue (B) subpixels andthe white (W) subpixel.
 11. A color liquid crystal display device havinga layer of liquid crystal material as filled in a gap space between twosubstrates with a color display device being provided for performingcolor displaying while letting unit pixel layouts be disposed in amatrix form, each said unit pixel layout being configured from aplurality of subpixels of red (R), green (G), blue (B) and white (W),wherein in each said subpixel an arrangement is employed to drive theliquid crystal by a comb-shaped signal electrode and a common electrodeprovided on one substrate, and wherein a distance of a signal line and asignal electrode end portion is changed on a per-color basis.
 12. Acolor liquid crystal display device according to claim 11, wherein anumber of teeth of the comb-shaped signal electrode is changed on aper-color basis.
 13. A liquid crystal display device including a liquidcrystal display panel having a gradation voltage generator operative togenerate a gradation voltage and a gradation voltage selector forselecting from the voltage generated by said gradation voltage generatora voltage pursuant to image data and for outputting this voltage from animage data output terminal, wherein first and second kinds of subpixelsexist which are different in size from each other while letting everysubpixel connected to a first signal line be regarded as the first kindof subpixel and letting every subpixel coupled to a second signal linebe regarded as the second kind of subpixel, a sub-image data outputterminal is arranged to be connected by a selector switch to the firstor second signal line, the selector switch being responsive to receiptof a signal SEL for performing switching to connect a connectiondestination to the first or second signal line, and said gradationvoltage generator generates a first gradation voltage corresponding tothe first kind of subpixel and a second gradation voltage correspondingto the second kind of subpixel respectively and operates in synchronismwith the signal SEL so that when the image data output terminal isconnected to the first signal line a gradation voltage generator circuitoutputs the first gradation voltage and when the image data outputterminal is connected to the second signal line the gradation voltagegenerator circuit outputs the second gradation voltage.
 14. A liquidcrystal display device according to claim 13, wherein said gradationvoltage generator has at least one first ladder resistor for generationof a voltage for use as a reference of the first gradation voltage andat least one second ladder resistor for generation of a voltage for useas a reference of the second gradation voltage.
 15. A liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 14, wherein said gradation voltagegenerator is made up of the first and second ladder resistors and anoperational amplifier being provided at a stage for output of agradation voltage to said gradation voltage selector, and wherein aswitch is provided for switching between voltages as output from thefirst ladder resistor and the second ladder resistor in sync with thesignal SEL to thereby output a switched voltage to said operationalamplifier.
 16. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 13,wherein in said gradation voltage generator a ladder resistor forgeneration of a voltage for use as a reference of gradation voltage isswitched within a time period which is shorter than a scanning period.17. A liquid crystal display device according to claim 13, wherein theselector switch is built in said liquid crystal display panel.
 18. Asemi-transmissive liquid crystal display device comprising a colordisplay device having a matrix array of unit pixel layouts each beingconstituted from four colors of subpixels for performing colordisplaying, the color display device functioning both as a transmissivepart which performs transmissive display under turn-on/off control ofillumination light from a backlight and as a reflective part whichperforms reflective display while controlling reflectivity of outsidelight, wherein a ratio of said transmissive part and said reflectivepart in said subpixels is different per color.
 19. A semi-transmissiveliquid crystal display device according to claim 18, wherein the fourcolors of subpixels are made up of subpixels of red (R), green (G), blue(B) and white (W), and wherein the white (W) subpixel is different inthe ratio of said transmissive part and said reflective part fromsubpixels of remaining colors so that said reflective part is larger inratio of subpixel area than said transmissive part.
 20. Asemi-transmissive liquid crystal display device according to claim 18,wherein the four colors of subpixels are made up of subpixels of red(R), green (G), blue (B) and white (W), and wherein said reflective partis arranged only at the white (W) subpixel.